A father acted strangely nervous during a routine checkup with his five young daughters.

When the nurse sees their blood test results, she starts to panic and realizes something is terribly wrong.

The late evening air hung heavy with humidity in Macallen, Texas, a small border town known for its steady stream of migrant crossings.

Just a stones throw from the Rio Grand, the Rio Care Family Health Center stood as a beacon of hope for many seeking medical attention, both locals and those hoping to make a new life on American soil.

Elena Marquez moved efficiently around the emergency room, her dark hair pulled back in a practical bun as she filed away patient paperwork.

At 35, she carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew her profession well, despite having relocated from San Antonio just the previous week.

The walls of the clinic still felt unfamiliar, but the routine of healthcare was the same anywhere.

The clock on the wall read 8:00 p.m.

Elena glanced at it with mild relief, only 2 hours until closing.

The clinic had been bustling earlier, but the crowd had thinned considerably as the evening wore on.

Now, most of the remaining patients in the waiting area appeared to be immigrants, their faces etched with the particular mix of hope and weariness that Elena had quickly learned to recognize.

She walked out of the ER room into the waiting area, having just finished with a patient.

The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow over the worn tile floor as she returned to the nurse station to complete some paperwork.

As she worked, Elena’s eyes drifted across the waiting room, settling on a man sitting with five young girls.

They were all dressed simply but neatly, the girls in similar jeans and colorful tops.

The man appeared to be of Mexican descent, his expression a mixture of fatigue and nervousness.

Elena turned to the fellow nurse standing nearby, a man in his 40s named Carlos, who had been efficiently handling the flow of patients all evening.

“Who are they waiting for?” Elena asked quietly, nodding toward the family.

Carlos looked up from his computer screen, his eyes briefly scanning the waiting area before returning to his work.

“I think they’ve been waiting for a while.

” I’m not sure, he replied kindly, though it was clear he was preoccupied.

Elena frowned slightly.

Have they had their vitals taken? It’s standard procedure before seeing the doctor.

I don’t think so, Carlos responded, still focused on his screen.

They’ve just been waiting there.

Elena nodded decisively.

I’ll check them out.

She approached the family, offering a warm smile as she came to stand before them.

The man looked up at her approach, his expression difficult to read.

“Hello, I’m nurse Elena Marquez,” she introduced herself.

“Have you had your vitals checked yet?” The man straightened in his seat.

“We’re waiting for Dr.

Alan Briggs for vaccinations and some blood tests.

” Elena tilted her head slightly.

May I ask for what purpose? To complete our papers, the man explained, his voice low and steady.

To pass the border to the USA.

Elena considered this for a moment.

I haven’t seen Dr.Briggs all day today.

Let me check for you, but first, may I see your patient registration paper? The man reached into his pocket and produced a folded form which he handed to Elena.

She scanned it quickly, noting the details.

Matteo Ruiz, 42 years old, accompanied by Sophia, 10, Isabella, 9, Valentina, 8, Anna, 7, and Lutia, 5.

All were listed as Mexican nationals.

Elena looked at each of the girls in turn, struck by their unusual stillness.

They sat quietly beside Matteo, with the youngest, Lucia, perched on his lap.

There was none of the fidgeting or whispering that Elena typically associated with children, especially after a long wait.

“All right,” Elena said with a reassuring smile.

“Please wait here.

I’ll check on Doctor Briggs’s schedule.

” She returned to the nurse station where Carlos was now entering data into the computer.

“Dr.Briggs isn’t working today,” he informed her when she asked.

He had an emergency appointment and took the day off.

Elena frowned.

The man over there says he has an appointment with doctor Briggs specifically and the children.

They’re unusually quiet.

Don’t you think that’s strange? He looked at the family again, this time more intently.

I think I’ve seen that man before.

He’s a patient of Dr.Briggs.

Don’t worry about him.

And honestly, he’s lucky to have daughters who behave so well.

Otherwise, he’d be living in a jungle.

There’s a lot of immigrants here, so I just want to be extra careful when something seems unusual.

Carlos glanced over at the family.

Welcome to Bordertown Healthcare, he said with a slight shrug.

Elena hesitated, but nodded.

Maybe they’re just well- behaved.

She returned to Matteo and the girls.

I’m sorry, but Dr.Briggs is off work today.

The system mentioned he has an emergency appointment outside the clinic.

Mateo’s expression shifted, a flash of confusion and nervousness crossing his features before he regained his composure.

“You don’t understand,” he said, his voice tighter than before.

“I have an appointment with Dr.Briggs.

The doctor himself told me to come here at this day and time.

” Elena tried to remain professional.

It looks like you might already have his personal number.

Perhaps you could try reaching out to him directly.

We are aware that many family doctors, especially ones like doctor Briggs often share their personal numbers for follow-ups.

Matteo’s face darkened with anger.

What kind of service is this? He demanded, his voice rising slightly.

You should call the doctor.

We have an appointment here.

This is the clinic where he works.

I understand your frustration,” Helena said calmly.

“Please excuse me while I try to reach him.

” She walked back to the nurse station where Carlos was now tending to another patient.

Elena picked up the phone and dialed doctor Briggs’s number, but there was no answer.

She tried his home number as listed in the hospital database with the same result.

As she waited through the ring cycles, Elena glanced back toward Matteo.

He was visibly anxious now, scratching his head, shifting in his seat, and typing rapidly on his phone.

The contrast between his agitation and the girl’s stillness struck her as even more peculiar.

After several failed attempts to reach doctor Briggs, Elena headed back to speak with Mateo.

As she approached, she saw him rise from his seat and answer a phone call, stepping away toward the emergency staircase for privacy.

The girls remained in their seats, unmoving.

Elena waited with them, attempting small talk with the children, but none of them responded beyond brief nods or one-word answers.

From beyond the emergency door, she caught fragments of Matteo’s increasingly agitated conversation.

Tomorrow? Yes.

Give me time, please.

Yes, I’ll pay.

Elena looked around, wondering if anyone else had heard, but the remaining staff and patients were engrossed in their own concerns.

A sense of unease began to settle in her stomach as she waited for Matteo to return.

Matteo returned from the stairwell, his face set in a mask of controlled tension as he approached Elellena.

She offered a professional smile, though her instincts were quietly sounding alarms.

I tried Dr.Briggs’s phone and home number, but I couldn’t reach him,” she explained.

“I’m very sorry for the inconvenience.

” “Mateo looked frustrated, but not violent.

” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m wasting time here,” he said, his voice low, but intense.

“I really need to get the girls vaccinated because we plan to go across the border and seek asylum.

I had arranged pickup there and with this delay, everything else on my schedule will be affected, too.

Elena took another look at the patient registration papers, carefully studying the details she had only skimmed before.

I see you need vaccinations for DTAPIPV, which covers dtheria, tetanus, pertasus, and polio.

MMRV for measles, MS, reubella, and veritella, plus hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

This is for your asylum application procedure, correct? Matteo nodded tursly.

Yes, that’s right.

Well, Elena said, making a quick decision.

If you don’t mind, I can administer the vaccinations myself.

I’m a nurse practitioner, so I’m qualified to do this.

We’ll also need to do a blood test as part of the prevaccine health screening.

It’s standard to screen for hepatitis B and run a standard blood test.

Matteo’s eyes widened slightly.

Blood test.

They don’t need that.

The children are fine.

Elena maintained her professional demeanor.

Due to our clinic being in a border town, it’s standard procedure here.

No, Matteo said firmly.

That’s not necessary.

Elena considered for a moment, then offered an alternative.

We have other doctors in the clinic who could see you, but there’s a cue at the moment.

You would need to wait until those registered patients are served first, or if someone cancels or skips their appointment, I could help insert you in between.

She paused, then added, “But the doctor would also order the same blood tests that I mentioned.

” Mateo seemed torn, his eyes darting between Elena and the girls who continued to sit in eerie stillness.

“Would you be doing this alone?” he asked finally.

“No other practitioners.

” “And you’ll drop the sample at the lab yourself and check the results yourself?” Elena found the question strange, but answered professionally.

“Yes, as a nurse practitioner, I can order the lab tests and handle the sample collection and paperwork.

I’ll sign it along with the lab tech staff, but I’m not authorized to sign the official lab results.

Only authorized lab personnel can do that.

Matteo seemed to be weighing his options carefully.

He pulled out his phone and appeared to be looking at previous lab reports, though the text was too small for Elena to read without being obvious about her interest.

After a long moment, he exhaled deeply.

“Okay,” he said, meeting her eyes.

I’ll trust you.

Relief washed over Elena.

Great, she said, gesturing toward the hallway.

Please follow me, all of you.

As they walked down the corridor, Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

The girls moved in nearperfect unison, following their father without a word or glance at their surroundings.

In Elena’s experience, children in clinics were typically curious, nervous, or both.

But these girls displayed neither emotion.

She led them to an examination room, trying to maintain a cheerful demeanor that belied her growing concern.

She reassured herself that if something was wrong, the blood test would reveal it.

We’ll start with taking everyone’s vitals and then move on to the blood draw,” she explained, directing them to the chairs along the wall.

Matteo nodded silently, his eyes following Elena’s every move as she prepared her equipment.

The weight of his gaze made her increasingly uncomfortable, but she focused on her professional duties.

The examination room was painted a calm shade of blue, though the effect was somewhat diminished by the harsh fluorescent lighting.

Standard medical posters adorned the walls depicting human anatomy and common childhood ailments.

Elena gestured for the girls to sit on the chairs arranged against the wall while she prepared her equipment.

“I’ll take your vitals one by one, starting with Sophia,” Elena said, smiling at the oldest girl.

She worked methodically, checking Sophia’s blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and oxygen levels.

The girl complied silently, her large brown eyes focused on some indeterminate point on the floor.

Elena tried to engage her with casual questions about school and favorite subjects, but Sophia’s responses were minimal, uttered just above a whisper.

“You’re doing great, Sophia,” Elena encouraged, making a note on her chart before moving on to Isabella.

Elena repeated the process with each girl, finding the same pattern with all of them.

quiet compliance, minimal eye contact, and brief responses.

Mateo stood nearby, arms crossed, his eyes never leaving the proceedings.

“Would you like to wait outside while I draw their blood?” Elena suggested to Matteo as she prepared the blood collection equipment.

“Some parents find it difficult to watch.

” “No,” Matteo replied firmly.

“I’ll stay with my daughters.

” Elena nodded, not wanting to push further.

She began with Sophia again, gently explaining what she was doing as she tied the tourniquet around the girl’s arm and swabbed the inside of her elbow with alcohol.

“This will pinch a little,” she warned softly before inserting the needle.

“Sophia didn’t flinch, her expression remaining unchanged as Elena filled the collection tubes.

” “You’re very brave,” Elena commented, applying a bandage to the puncture site.

Sophia didn’t respond.

As Elena worked through drawing blood from each child, she continued her attempts at friendly conversation, hoping to coax some personality from them.

“Do you girls have a favorite game you like to play?” she asked as she drew blood from Valentina.

“Before any of the girls could answer, Matteo interjected.

They don’t play much.

They study.

It’s important for their future.

” Elena noted the edge in his voice and how the girls seemed to shrink slightly at his intervention.

She caught Valentina glancing quickly at her father before lowering her eyes again.

After collecting all the samples, Elena labeled each one carefully with the patient barcode, aware of Matteo’s unwavering attention to her actions.

I’ll take these to the lab now, Elena said, gathering the labeled tubes.

You can wait here for a few minutes.

No, Matteo said rising from his chair.

We’ll come with you.

Elena hesitated, finding his insistence unusual, but couldn’t think of a professional reason to refuse.

All right, follow me.

They walked through the corridor to the lab, Matteo hurting the girls along behind Elena like a flock of silent ducklings.

At the lab window, Elena handed over the tray of samples to a technician inside.

Before she could turn away, Mateo stepped forward, calling to the lab technician.

“Those are for my children,” he said, pointing to himself.

“I’m Mateo Ruiz.

” Elena watched this interaction with surprise.

It was not common for patients to address lab technicians directly about their samples.

“You seem like a very responsible father,” Elena commented as they stepped away from the lab window.

and the girls all behave very well.

Though she kept her tone light, Elena was probing, trying to understand the dynamics at play.

Something felt off, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

Matteo’s expression softened slightly.

In Mexico, it’s very common for samples to get mixed up in labs, he explained.

I just want to make sure everything is accurate.

Elena nodded understandingly.

“You don’t need to worry.

We’re very careful with samples here,” she assured him.

She gestured toward the waiting area near the lab.

“You can wait here for the results.

It shouldn’t take too long.

” As she turned to leave, she added, “I’ll come to find you for the vaccination.

” Walking away, Elena couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right with the Ruy’s family.

The girl’s unnatural quietness, Mateo’s hovering presence, his insistence on following her to the lab, all of it struck her as unusual.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was overanalyzing things.

Maybe Matteo was simply a protective father, or perhaps it was a cultural difference.

Things were certainly different here than in Mexico.

Without any concrete signs of wrongdoing, all she could do was uphold her professionalism and remain quietly observant.

Elena returned to the nurse station, her mind still preoccupied with the Ruiz family.

The clinic was noticeably quieter now with less than an hour until closing time.

Only a handful of patients remained in the waiting room, most looking tired after what was likely a long day.

Carlos was at the desk updating patient records in the computer system.

Elena leaned against the counter beside him, keeping her voice low.

“That man with the five daughters.

” “Did you notice how strange they were acting?” she asked.

Carlos looked up from his screen.

“What do you mean?” “The girls were just so quiet,” Elena explained.

And the father followed me all the way to the lab, watched me hand over the samples, and even called out to the lab tech to make sure they knew which samples belong to his children.

” Carlos chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

“This is Border Town Clinic,” Elena.

“Every day, strange things happen here.

You need to learn to tell the difference between culture shock and real threats.

” Elena considered his words.

“I know it’s not wrong, per se.

It just seems weird.

I felt the same way during my first few months here, Carlos said with a sympathetic smile.

You’ll get used to it.

Elena nodded slowly, not entirely convinced, but willing to consider that her newcomer status might be coloring her perceptions.

By the way, what about Doctor Briggs? I’ve been here a week and haven’t seen him.

Oh, he’s a senior doctor here, Carlos replied.

one of the best in this border town.

He works here, but not exclusively.

He also takes private consultations and does patient visitations.

So maybe Matteo was somehow mistaken or there was some miscommunication between him and the doctor.

Carlos shrugged.

It happens.

Dr.Briggs has a lot of patience, especially among the immigrant community.

He’s built quite a reputation.

Their conversation was interrupted by another staff member needing Carlos’s assistance.

Elena excused herself and headed toward the ER to ensure everything was in order for closing.

As she walked, she caught sight of Matteo through a window.

He was outside in the clinic’s parking lot on his phone again.

The five girls were with him, three of them leaning against each other, seemingly asleep while sitting on a metal bench.

The youngest, Lucia, was still awake, holding her father’s hand as he spoke on the phone.

Elena watched as Mateo stepped away from the bench, still on the call.

Lutia followed him initially, but he gestured for her to stay with her sisters.

The little girl reluctantly complied, returning to sit beside her sleeping siblings.

Mateo moved further away, his expression growing increasingly agitated as he spoke.

From her vantage point, Elena saw a man approach Matteo from the shadows of the parking lot.

The stranger wore casual clothes, his face half-hidden in the dim evening light.

Matteo’s posture changed immediately.

He stood straighter, his movements becoming more differential as he patted the man’s shoulder.

Concerned about the children left alone on the bench, Elena decided to check on them.

She exited through the ER doors and approached the girls.

Lucia perked up slightly at her approach, though the older girls remained asleep or in a state close to it.

Mateo quickly noticed Elena’s presence and ended his conversation with a hasty wave and a brief handshake to the stranger, who slipped away into the shadows.

He hurried back to the bench, his expression a mixture of surprise and weariness.

“Is something wrong?” he asked Elena, positioning himself between her and the girls.

“I saw the girls outside and wanted to make sure they’re okay,” Elena explained.

“It’s getting late.

” Matteo relaxed slightly.

“They’re just tired.

” “You’re welcome to come back inside,” Elena offered.

“It’s more comfortable with the air conditioning.

” “It’s okay,” Mateo insisted.

Leave the girls here.

They love the warm outside compared to the dry air conditioner.

Before Elena could respond, her pager beeped.

She glanced down at it.

The message was from the lab.

The results are ready.

She told Matteo.

“I’ll come find you after I check them and then we can proceed with the vaccinations.

” Mateo nodded, his gaze following her as she returned to the building.

Elena couldn’t help but feel that his eyes on her back, watching her every move.

The corridor to the lab felt longer than usual as Elena made her way down it, her footsteps echoing against the lenolium floor.

Her pager felt heavy in her pocket.

The simple message from the lab carrying a weight she couldn’t quite explain.

At the lab window, a technician, a middle-aged man named Donnie Rain, whom Elena had interacted with a few times during her first week, handed her the results for the five girls.

“Everything looks normal,” Donnie said with a casual smile, though Elellena noticed traces of sweat on his brow despite the cool temperature in the lab.

“Healthy kids.

” Elena observed him briefly, a flicker of recognition stirring in his posture, then offered a polite thank you before stepping aside to review the results.

Her eyes moved steadily across the pages, scanning for any irregularities or warning signs.

According to the reports, all five girls had normal blood work.

No trace of drugs or anything else alarming in their systems.

Relief washed over her.

Despite her suspicions about Matteo’s behavior, at least the girls weren’t being drugged or otherwise physically endangered.

She signed the papers, confirming she had reviewed the results.

As Elena headed back toward the exit to find Matteo and his daughters, she saw them already making their way inside.

Mateo carried the sleeping Luchia in his arms while the older girls trudged alongside him, their movements sluggish with fatigue.

The lab tests are clear, Elena informed him with a professional smile.

We can proceed with the vaccinations.

Now she guided them into the treatment room where the vaccines had already been set out in advance.

The girls settled quietly in a row, their eyelids drooping with fatigue, except for Lucia, who sat alert in her father’s arms, her bright eyes wide with the energy typical of a 5-year-old at this hour.

It always amazed Elena how little ones somehow found their second wind in the evenings.

Elena prepared the first dose explaining the vaccination process to Matteo and the girls.

Each girl will receive four injections, one for diptheria, tetanus and pertasus combined with polio, one for measles, mumps, reubella and vericella and separate ones for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

She began with Sophia, administering each injection carefully and praising her for staying still.

The girl barely reacted to the needles, her expression remaining blank.

Isabella was similarly stoic during her turn.

As Elena prepared to vaccinate Valentina, the girl’s face suddenly pald.

“I feel sick,” she whispered.

The first words Elena had heard her speak.

“Do you need to use the bathroom?” Elena asked gently.

I can walk with you.

Before Valentina could answer, Matteo stood.

I’ll take her, he said firmly, gripping his daughter’s arm.

Where is the bathroom? Elena pointed to the door across the hall.

Right there.

Mateo called for Lutia, the youngest, to come with him as he guided Valentina toward the door, but Elena gently intervened, assuring him that Lutia could stay with her.

When Valentina suddenly gagged, Mateo hurried her to the bathroom, leaving Lucia behind.

For the first time since meeting the family, Elena found herself alone with the children, free, if only briefly, from their father’s ever watchful presence.

Sophia and Isabella sat still, their eyes downcast, but Lutia suddenly perked up.

She approached Elena with unexpected animation.

Dad told us we’re going to USA, she said, her voice small but excited.

Elena smiled, charmed by the child’s enthusiasm.

That’s right.

Dad said we can dance and we’ll get famous, Lucia continued, beginning to sway her little body in an impromptu dance.

Will you dance with me? I’m sorry, sweetie.

I can’t dance right now, Elena replied gently, surprised by the girl’s sudden talkiveness.

I have to give you your shots.

Undeterred, Lutia continued dancing on her own, raising her arms above her head in joyful movements.

As the child’s sleeve pulled back, Elena noticed something on her right arm, a series of small bruises that looked like pin prick marks, similar to those left by IV injections.

She hadn’t noticed them when she had drawn blood from the other arm.

Lucia, what happened here? Elena asked, gently touching the marks.

The little girl paused her dancing and looked at her own arm with mild curiosity.

I was sick, she said simply.

Dad gave me some medicine.

Elena’s heart rate quickened.

At the hospital? Lucia shook her head.

No, at home.

He often gives me medicine.

He says I’m sick.

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

The medicine makes me sleepy all the time, even when I want to dance.

Elena struggled to keep her expression neutral despite the alarm bells ringing in her mind.

“When was the last time he gave you medicine?” “Before we came here,” Lucia replied, resuming her dance.

Elena’s gaze shifted to the other girls.

She pulled out her pen light and quickly checked their pupils, finding them slightly dilated, though not dramatically so.

She checked their arms and all of them have pin prick marks.

The pieces suddenly clicked together.

Matteo could be drugging the children with mild sedatives to keep them quiet and compliant.

But this didn’t make sense with the lab results she had just reviewed.

If the girls had drugs in their system, the blood tests should have shown it.

Acting on instinct driven by her growing suspicion, Elena swiftly grabbed a syringe and blood collection equipment from a nearby drawer.

She knew it was against protocol, and if Matteo or anyone else caught her, she could be in serious trouble.

But something didn’t add up.

The girls weren’t just sleepy.

They were under something.

“Lutia,” she said softly, her voice barely betraying her unease.

“I need to take just a little more blood from you and your sisters.

” Okay.

The girl nodded trustingly, extending her arm without question.

Elena worked rapidly, taking a small blood sample from Lucia, then from Anna, Isabella, and Sophia.

Each girl complied without resistance, their dosility now seeming sinister rather than merely unusual.

Elena labeled each sample carefully, then concealed them in one of the cabinet just as the door opened, and Matteo returned with Valentina.

She’s feeling sick, Matteo reported, his voice tinged with irritation.

He whispered something to Valentina, who kept her eyes lowered.

Get a hold of yourself, Elena heard him say.

This is just vaccination.

Don’t act like a baby.

It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous before vaccination.

Elena assured them both, though her attention was drawn to Lutia, who was now dancing energetically around the room, seemingly becoming more alert by the minute, a stark contrast to the quiet, drowsy girl Elena had first seen.

If she had been given something earlier, it seemed like the sedative, whatever it was, was starting to wear off.

Lucia’s sudden burst of energy only deepened Elena’s suspicion, and she couldn’t help but compare Lucia’s burst of energy with the other girls, who remained eerily still and sluggish in their seats.

Matteo stared at Elena, then at his youngest daughter, his expression darkening.

“Lutia,” he said sharply.

“Sit down.

” Elena sensed the tension rising in the room.

Perhaps we should take a short break, she suggested, moving toward the door.

I’ll give you all a minute.

But as she reached for the door handle, a chill ran down her spine.

Matteo was watching her with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat.

Before Elena could grasp the handle, Matteo stepped forward and closed the door.

The soft click of the lock engaging, sending a wave of fear through her.

He stood between her and the exit, his previously nervous demeanor replaced by something far more menacing.

“You know, don’t you?” His voice was low, measured.

Elena forced herself to appear confused.

“I’m sorry.

I don’t understand what you mean.

” Mateo’s eyes narrowed as he studied her face.

A slow, humorless smile spread across his features.

“I think you do.

Lutia must have said something.

She’s a little radio that one,” he said.

Then, with a swift movement that made Elena gasp, he reached into his waistband and pulled out a small handgun.

The girls remained eerily quiet, even little Lucia, freezing in place at the sight of the weapon.

Only Valentina made a small whimpering sound, quickly silenced by a sharp glance from her father.

“Please,” Elena whispered, raising her hand slightly.

There’s no need for that.

I really don’t know what you’re talking about.

Mateo’s laugh echoed through the sterile examination room, sending a chill down Elena’s spine.

“Yes, you do,” he said, his voice cold as he fixed his gaze on the rolled up sleeves of the girl’s arms.

Elena realized with a sudden jolt that she had forgotten to loosen them after taking their blood samples in her rush.

You saw their needle marks, didn’t you?” Matteo continued, his tone unnervingly calm.

“And now that you know there are only two ways out of this situation.

” He took a step closer, the gun steady in his hand, its presence a silent but deadly threat.

Option one, I kill you with this silent gun, and lock this room.

You’ll bleed out before anyone finds you tomorrow when the clinic reopens, and by then I’ll be long gone.

I have friends here, too, who can help me.

” Elena felt the blood drain from her face, her heart hammering so loudly she was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

The hidden blood samples felt like they were burning a hole in the drawer.

“To,” Matteo continued.

“We work together.

I’ll give you a portion of what I earn after I get the girls across the US border.

He named a figure that made Elena’s eyes widened despite her fear.

Even a quarter of that would make you rich.

You could leave this ratchet part of the USA for somewhere better.

We both win.

He gestured toward the girls with his free hand.

I wouldn’t like option one either because then it becomes a mess.

His voice hardened.

So, what’s it going to be, nurse Elena? The bladelike edge of the gun pressed against Elena’s cheek, cold and unforgiving.

Please, she begged, genuine tears welling in her eyes.

I promise I won’t say anything.

Just please don’t hurt me or the girls.

Matteo studied her face for what felt like an eternity before lowering the gun slightly.

Good, he said finally.

That’s the smart choice.

He gestured toward the vaccination tray with the gun.

Now finish your job.

Vaccinate the rest of my girls.

With trembling hands, Elena prepared the remaining vaccines for Valentina, Anna, and Lutia.

Her mind raced trying to find a way out of this nightmare while following Matteo’s orders.

The girls submitted to the injection silently, their eyes darting occasionally to the gun still visible in their father’s hand.

“Very good,” Mateo said when Elena had administered the last vaccine to Lucia.

“Now sign the vaccination papers.

Make it official.

” Elena complied, her signature barely legible due to her shaking hand.

As she filled out the paperwork, Matteo leaned close, his breath hot against her ear.

“Keep that mouth shut.

” “No police,” he whispered.

“And before you know it, I’ll come with the money in 2 days.

But if you talk,” he let the threat hang in the air for a moment.

“No money, and my people are everywhere, even in this hospital, you could walk around a corner and never know if you would see another daylight.

” Helena nodded rapidly, desperate to appear compliant.

I understand.

I won’t say anything.

Smart girl, Matteo said, tucking the gun back into his waistband and pulling his shirt over it.

We need to finish at the cashier before we leave.

Come on, girls.

He herded the children toward the door, pausing to give Elena one last threatening look before exiting the room.

two days,” he reminded her.

“Remember what I said.

” As the door closed behind them, Elena collapsed into a chair, her entire body shaking with fear and adrenaline.

She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself enough to think clearly.

Mateo hadn’t been suspicious of the blood samples she had hidden.

After several minutes of deep breathing, Elena managed to steady herself enough to stand.

She reached up to the cabinet and carefully extracted the blood samples she had hidden there.

The four small vials felt impossibly heavy in her hand, representing both danger and hope.

She needed to get these tested, properly tested.

But who could she trust? Matteo’s words echoed in her mind.

My people are everywhere, even in this hospital.

If that was true, then the lab results she had received earlier were likely falsified by someone on Matteo’s payroll.

Elena peered cautiously into the hallway.

It was nearly empty.

Only a few patients lingered near the pharmacy, and less than a dozen at cashier, including Mateo and the girls, while most of the staff were winding down for the end of their shift.

Slipping out of the examination room, she moved quickly but quietly toward the lab, the vials tucked securely in her scrub pocket, her mind racing with what to do next.

The walk to the lab felt interminable, each passing colleague a potential threat.

Elena found herself scrutinizing every face, wondering if they were one of the people Matteo had mentioned.

Could she trust anyone? Carlos had seemed dismissive of her concerns about Matteo.

Was he involved or just jaded from years of working in a border clinic? When she reached the lab, Elena was relieved to see a technician she didn’t recognize.

A young man with kind eyes who looked up at her approach.

I need these samples tested right away, Elena said, keeping her voice steady despite her racing heart.

It’s the last test for the day, I promise.

The technician, his name badge read, Marcus, sighed tiredly.

We’re about to close up.

I know and I’m sorry, Elena said, glancing nervously over her shoulder.

But it’s really important.

Marcus seemed to sense her urgency.

Is everything all right? He asked, taking the samples from her outstretched hand.

Yes, Elena said quickly.

Too quickly.

Everything’s fine.

Marcus looked doubtful, but nodded.

I’ll run them now.

Do you want to wait for the results or should I page you? I’ll wait, Elena said firmly, not wanting to risk having the results intercepted.

Thank you.

She positioned herself in a chair near the lab window, her eyes fixed on the door, ready to flee at the first sign of Matteo or anyone who might be working with him.

Her mind raced with questions.

Who was the man Mateo had met in the parking lot? Was it Donnie, the lab technician, who had given her the falsified results earlier? Where was Dr.Briggs, and what was his connection to all of this? After what felt like hours, but was only about 10 minutes, Marcus approached the window with a concerned expression.

“These results show traces of a sedative in the blood,” he said quietly, sliding the printouts toward Elellena.

Not a large amount, but definitely present in all samples, except for the youngest child, who only has minimal traces left.

Where did these samples come from? Elena’s suspicions were confirmed.

She hesitated, torn between her fear for her own safety and her duty to protect these children.

“Are you familiar with Donnie Rain, the lab tech who was working earlier?” she asked cautiously.

Marcus nodded.

He left his shift early today.

Said he had a family emergency.

“I need to see the digital copies of some previous tests that he signed,” Elena said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“For patients named Valentina, Anna, and Lucia Ruiz.

They were processed earlier this evening.

” Looking confused but cooperative, Marcus accessed the computer system and printed out the requested documents.

Elena compared them side by side with the new results.

They were completely different.

The earlier tests showed no trace of any substances, while the new ones clearly indicated sedatives in the girl’s systems.

Marcus leaned over her shoulder, his eyes widening as he realized the discrepancy.

“These can’t both be right,” he said softly.

“Someone falsified the earlier results.

” Elena nodded grimly.

I think Donnie Rain might be involved.

Earlier today, I’m pretty sure I saw him talking to a man named Mateo Ruiz, the father of these children in the parking lot.

It wasn’t entirely clear, but the jawline, the hairstyle.

It looked like him.

Very typical of Donnie, right? Marcus’s expression turned grave.

We need to report this to the police whether it was Donnie you saw or not, he said firmly.

Even just the falsified results are enough.

Those children could be in real danger.

Elena hushed him, glancing anxiously around the empty lab.

Keep your voice down, she pleaded.

Mateo said he has people everywhere in this clinic.

She described what had happened in the examination room, Mateo’s threats, the gun, and what Lucia had revealed about being drugged regularly.

As she spoke, she felt a weight lifting from her shoulders.

Finally, someone believed her.

“We need to be careful,” she concluded.

“I think doctor Briggs might be involved, too.

” Matteo specifically asked for him, and he seemed very nervous when he learned the doctor wasn’t here today.

Marcus nodded thoughtfully.

“That might explain, “Look, I don’t want to spread rumors, but there have been some strange things happening with sample processing lately.

Some of us have noticed inconsistencies, especially with patients of certain doctors.

Including Dr.Briggs, Elena asked.

Yes, Marcus confirmed.

But no one wants to make accusations without proof.

Elena held up the test results.

Well, now we have some proof.

They looked at each other for a long moment, the gravity of the situation settling between them.

Elena thought about the money Matteo had offered her, a fortune that could change her life, and felt sick at the idea that anyone would accept payment to look the other way while children were exploited.

“We need to call the police,” she said finally, her voice firm with resolve.

“Those girls need help.

” Marcus nodded, reaching for the phone on the lab counter.

With trembling fingers, Elena dialed 911, prepared to risk everything to save five young lives from whatever terrible fate awaited them across the border.

The next few minutes passed in a blur as Elena reported the situation to the 911 dispatcher.

She provided details about Matteo, the girls, the falsified lab results, and the threat he had made against her life.

The dispatcher assured her that officers were on their way and instructed her to remain where she was until they arrived.

After hanging up, Elena peered out through the lab windows toward the clinic’s main entrance.

Her heart sank as she spotted Matteo and the girls at the cashier’s desk completing their payment.

They would be leaving soon.

“I have to stall them,” she whispered to Marcus.

“The police might not get here in time.

” Before Marcus could object, Elena was already moving, hurrying through the corridors toward the front of the clinic.

She emerged into the lobby just as Matteo was hurting the girls toward the exit.

Mr.Ruiz, she called, forcing a professional smile onto her face.

“I need to speak with you about” Mateo turned, his expression tightening, a guarded edge in his voice.

“Whatever you want to say, we can talk about it another time.

But it’s about your asylum application,” Elena said.

Mateo ignored her.

As he resumed walking to the exit door, the faint whale of sirens began to pierce through the clinic walls.

Mateo froze midstep, his head snapping toward the sound, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“What did you do? You called the police, didn’t you?” Mateo hissed, his voice sharp with betrayal as he reached instinctively toward his waistband and drew the gun.

Gasps rippled through the hallway as staff and the few remaining patients turned toward the commotion, their expressions shifting from confusion to fear.

Elena took a step back, her heart pounding, but her voice rang out clear and steady over the growing tension.

Everyone, stay calm.

Move away from the hallway and get to safety.

Matteo tightened his grip on the trigger and swung the gun toward Elena, his eyes locked on her with chilling focus.

So intent was his aim that he didn’t notice the security guard closing in from behind.

In one swift motion, the guard grabbed Matteo’s arm, twisting his wrist in a practiced hold.

The gun fired, too late to stop it, but the shot went wild, the bullet slamming harmlessly into the ceiling tiles above.

Shouts erupted around them as the hallway descended into chaos.

People ducking and scrambling for cover.

Marcus lunged into action, joining the guard in restraining Matteo.

With one swift kick, he knocked the gun from Matteo’s hand, sending it skidding across the floor.

As Matteo struggled, more health personnel rushed in.

Two nurses and a medical assistant helping to pin him down and secure his flailing limbs.

The scene was chaos for a moment, but within seconds, Matteo was fully restrained, his fury reduced to muffled curses beneath the collective weight holding him down.

“I called the police because that patient threatened me and is endangering those children,” she announced, pointing directly at Matteo.

“Multiple police cruisers pulled up outside the clinic, their lights flashing through the glass doors.

Officers entered swiftly, weapons drawn, but not aimed directly at anyone.

“Everyone stay calm,” the lead officer commanded.

“Which one is Matteo Ruiz?” Pinned to the ground, Mateo thrashed once more before going still, his eyes darting wildly as he grasped for control.

“This nurse is corrupt,” he shouted, his voice echoing down the hallway.

He pointed accusingly at Elena.

She tried to frame me and my daughters with fake lab test reports.

He turned to the clinic staff gathered nearby.

You all know me, have seen me coming here before.

Tell them.

A tense silence followed as Matteo called out specific names, including Carlos, the male nurse who had dismissed Elena’s concerns earlier.

Tell them.

Tell them I’m a regular patient here.

The staff members he addressed looked at each other uncomfortably, no one willing to speak up under the scrutiny of the police officers.

One of the officers approached Carlos directly.

“Sir, is what this man saying true?” Carlos hesitated, glancing between Matteo and the officer.

Finally, his shoulders slumped.

“No, I mean yes,” he murmured barely above a whisper.

Matteo and his accompllices came here sometimes, always with different girls.

Some of us nurses knew something wasn’t right, but not everyone.

He He promised to pay us to keep quiet about certain things and threatened us if we ever spoke about it to the police.

The officer turned to his colleagues.

We need backup.

Take them all into custody for questioning.

As several officers moved to arrest Matteo, Elena stepped forward.

There are two more who aren’t here.

Dr.Alan Briggs and a lab technician named Donnie Rain.

The lead officer nodded gravely.

Dr.Briggs has recently become a suspect in another case.

“We’ve been looking for him since yesterday.

” “That explains why I couldn’t reach him earlier,” Elena murmured.

“Do you have any evidence of the falsified tests?” another officer asked.

Elena gestured toward Marcus who had followed her from the lab carrying both sets of test results.

Here, she said, the original tests were altered to hide the presence of sedatives in the children’s blood.

As the officers examined the evidence, other police personnel were attending to the five girls who stood huddled together, looking confused and frightened.

Lutia, the youngest, seemed the most alert, though she too was beginning to show signs of sleepiness as the night wore on.

“They’ll need medical attention,” Elena explained to a female officer.

“They’ve been drugged regularly,” according to what the youngest told me.

Mateo, now in handcuffs, was being led toward the door.

As he passed Elena, he began pleading desperately.

“Listen to me.

I’m not operating alone.

I can give you information, names, locations, everything in exchange for leniency.

An officer tried to quiet him, but Mateo continued, his voice rising with panic.

Please, I owe some men a lot of money.

I was forced to do this.

My own family is in danger.

Save it for the station, the officer said firmly, guiding him outside.

As Elena watched Mateo being placed in a police car, she remembered the phone conversation she had overheard earlier, his desperate promise to pay someone by tomorrow.

It seemed Matteo himself was caught in a web of debt and coercion, though that did nothing to excuse his actions toward the five innocent girls.

She approached the detective who appeared to be in charge.

“I overheard him on a phone call earlier,” she explained.

It sounded like he was in debt to someone, which might be why he was in such a rush to get the girls vaccinated and across the border.

He needed the money.

The detective nodded thoughtfully.

We’ll investigate how deep this goes.

Human trafficking networks often operate with multiple layers of people, some of whom are themselves being coerced or threatened.

A child protective services worker arrived shortly after, introducing herself to Elena and the officers.

These girls are Mexican nationals, the CPS worker explained after a brief assessment.

We’ll work with Mexican authorities to find them a safe place.

Based on their condition and what you’ve reported, it seems they were being trafficked for a prostitution ring, but we still need to confirm that.

Elena felt her heartbreak at the thought of what might have awaited these children had they crossed the border.

They deserve so much better than this, she said softly.

The CPS worker nodded in agreement.

Unfortunately, we see cases like this more often than you’d think, but thanks to your intervention, these girls have a chance at a normal life now.

As the investigation continued around her, Elellena approached the girls who were being gently attended to by medical personnel.

Lucia looked up as Elellena knelt beside her.

“Are you a dancer, too?” the little girl asked, her earlier energy now dimmed by fatigue.

Elena smiled gently.

“No, sweetheart, I’m a nurse.

I help people get better when they’re sick.

” “Am I really sick?” Lucia asked, her large eyes searching Elena’s face.

“Dad always said I was sick.

” “No,” Elena assured her, fighting back tears.

“You’re not sick.

You’re a beautiful, healthy little girl and you’re going to be okay.

Now, as the girls were prepared for transport to a proper medical facility, Elellena promised herself she would follow up on their case, make sure they found a safe home where they could be children again, where they could dance if they wanted to, play, learn, and grow without fear.

The events of the evening had shaken her faith in people, but had also shown her the importance of trusting her instincts.

In this small border town, where desperation and opportunity created a dangerous combination, vigilance could mean the difference between life and a fate worse than death for the most vulnerable.

As she watched the girls being gently led outside to a waiting vehicle, Elena thought about the countless others who might be caught in similar situations, children who needed someone to notice, to question, to act.

Today, she had been that someone for five young girls.

Tomorrow, perhaps she would be that someone for others in need.

In the end, that was why she had become a nurse, not just to treat illnesses, but to heal lives.

Tonight, despite the danger and fear, she had done exactly that.

And no amount of money could ever replace the feeling of knowing she had made the right choice when it mattered most.